Mena Suvari: 'Happiness is not about material goods'

The American Beauty actress Mena Suvari on fame, fortune, charity and
business.

American Beauty, staring Kevin Spacey and Mena Suvari

By Lorraine McBride

7:14AM BST 14 Oct 2012

Actress Mena Suvari was barely out of her teens when she won a Bafta nomination for her best-known role in Sam Mendes's Oscar-winning film American Beauty. She began her career as a child model, later modelled for Lancôme cosmetics and has championed a variety of charitable causes. Mena's starring roles have included American Pie, Factory Girl, Domino, Garden of Eden and Six Feet Under. Twice divorced, Mena, 33, lives in Los Angeles.

How did your childhood influence your work ethic?

Wow! I think because I travelled a lot when I was younger, I grew really used to being easily able to adapt to new environments. I lived in several different places; I grew up in Newport, Rhode Island, and later lived in the Virgin Islands and South Carolina before moving to Los Angeles. I have a very professional attitude towards my work and moving from place to place, I can easily assimilate and I'm sure that influenced it.

Were your parents – Candice, a nurse, and Ando, a psychiatrist – very hard workers and did that rub off on you?

My parents are my role models and their work ethic definitely carried over. I was 12 when I started modelling and they encouraged me to the extent that they even moved to Los Angeles at that time. Actually, I started doing commercial work in Rhode Island even younger, and my first job, when I was just seven, was a regional commercial for a political campaign, though I can't remember how much I was paid.

Is American Beauty your proudest achievement?

Having the opportunity to work on American Beauty and have it reach and touch so many people was, and still is, a great honour. I could never have expected to be so lucky.

After your role in American Beauty brought material success and worldwide fame, how did you keep your feet on the ground?

I'm not quite sure. But, again, I was blessed to have a great family and wonderful friends around me. Having three brothers definitely kept me grounded. I love my brothers very much and they've been a wonderful presence. I've tried to stay grounded. At the end of the day [acting] is just a job.

So has your attitude to money changed over the years?

Hmm, there was definitely an innocence for me growing up. My passion for what I did was never about chasing fame and fortune; instead, I had a passion for my work. I always felt that I'd been given all these amazing opportunities and I think it's just simply getting older, as we become independent and an adult, that we realise what having to work for a living entails, but money was never my main objective.

What's been your best business decision?

I can't really say as I've been given so many opportunities. [Showbusiness] was something that I fell into at an age when I didn't even know exactly what it meant, so being in this industry is pretty much what I've known my whole life. Living in different places and starting work at just seven meant that I became independent at a young age. I was probably treated closer to an adult than a child, particularly when I was 14 and 15 and really becoming aware of what I was doing and leaving school at times to work on a show and having to make it work.

Are you more of a cash, debit card or credit card type of girl?

Cash is great.

Are you a spender or saver?

Both, it depends on my mood. My biggest indulgence is that I love fashion, and I do have a weakness for a beautiful, classic piece of designer art.

What's been your best and worst buy?

Oh God, I think some of the worst things you can ever buy are cars that depreciate extremely fast. In the States you lose about 30pc of the car's value as you drive away [from the showroom]. At times I've fallen into that trap but I think the best thing you can invest in is any kind of property or real estate.

What sort of tipper are you?

I appreciate everything people do for me. I'm very generous and aware of what they do and where they're at in life. I always try to put myself in someone else's situation but I don't think I'm above anyone else in life. What's the biggest tip I've ever given a waiter? In LA you usually tip 20pc and if you gave 10pc it'd be considered rude.

Do you invest in stocks and shares?

I do, I try to be smart with my choices. I think it's important to get a good business manager and find a person or company that works for you and that there is great communication. I feel I can ask any kind of question and learn about opportunities and whether to invest or not. With anything business related, it's important to know what you're involving yourself in and what you can build.

What's the secret of being a successful movie star?

I choose to consider myself an artist and find gratitude in being able to polish myself over time and through experiences.

What's the most memorable fan mail you've ever received?

I have been lucky to have people from all over the world tell me that they enjoy my work and how a certain movie changed their lives in some way. This is something that I feel truly blessed to have as a compliment.

Does money make you happy?

It depends what kind of person you are. It's not a definition of happiness for me. My definition is that I really believe my life is a journey for me to get to know myself, but happiness is not about material goods.

What's your favourite charity?

I've been working with Amref [African Medical & Research Foundation] for years. They stand out from a lot of charities in Africa in the sense that the organisation is 97pc African and based in Kenya. I love all the desert projects that they have and they really focus on women and children. I've had a particular passion for Africa for years. I became affiliated with them after working with Caterina Morino [Suvari's co-star on Hemingway's Garden of Eden] who introduced me to them and I was grateful to be brought on board as their American Ambassador.

A few years ago I went to Ethiopia and Uganda, which was amazing. We weren't able to travel to Kenya because of political strife so it would be great to visit their headquarters and I hope to go back next year. In Ethiopia, I experienced their culture and history and I met an amazing doctor who performed life saving surgery on a one-month-old baby.

Visiting Africa was completely life-changing in so many respects to experience first hand the people, cultures and the issues along with the possibilities. Amref is a passionate, hard-working organisation that brings real change and sustainability.